Staple foods consume over half of basic grocery basket costs

The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group’s October Household Affordability Index reveals that core staple foods now account for 54% of a basic 44-item grocery basket. The total cost for this basket reached R5,512.53, representing a monthly increase of 0.4% and an annual rise of 1.3%.

Core foods, which include maize meal, rice, flour, sugar, potatoes, onions, chicken, and bread, cost R2,961.75. These essential items saw an annual price increase of 3.7%, outstripping the overall basket inflation. While maize meal and rice prices decreased compared to last year, other essentials saw significant spikes: onion prices more than doubled, potatoes rose by 33%, and tomatoes increased by 21%.

The report highlights a growing nutritional gap. A separate basket designed to provide a nutritionally complete diet for a family of seven costs R6,692.25, which is R1,179.72 more than the basic household basket. The group warns that as the cost of staples rises, low-income families are forced to reduce spending on nutritious items such as meat, eggs, dairy, vegetables, and fruit.